Jesse Helms

The always provocative performance artist Karen Finley comes to Baltimore on Jan. 27 to read from the 25th anniversary edition of her best-known book, "Shock Treatment." Finley was notorious for smearing her nude body with chocolate during performances.

She became one of "The NEA Four" whose federal grants were rescinded in 1990 after former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms attacked their artwork as obscene. The artists fought the National Endowment of the Arts' decency clause all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, but lost.

Can you describe your presentation?

I'll do dramatic readings from the book, including a new poem that I wrote for...

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